St. Therese of Lisieux
OUR HEAVENLY PATRON
THÉRÈSE MARTIN was born at Alençon, France on 2 January 1873. Two days later, she was baptized Marie Frances Thérèse at Notre Dame Church. Her parents were Louis Martin and Zélie Guérin. After the death of her mother on 28 August 1877, Thérèse and her family moved to Lisieux.
On 9 April 1888 she entered the Carmel of Lisieux. She received the habit on 10 January of the following year, and made her religious profession on 8 September 1890 on the Feast of the Birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary. On 9 June 1895, on the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, she offered herself as a sacrificial victim to the merciful Love of God. At this time, she wrote her first autobiographical manuscript, which she presented to Mother Agnes for her birthday on 21 January 1896.
Her final words, “My God…, I love you!”, seal a life which was extinguished on earth at the age of twenty-four; thus began, as was her desire, a new phase of apostolic presence on behalf of souls in the Communion of Saints, in order to shower a rain of roses upon the world.
She was canonized by Pope Pius XI on 17 May 1925. The same Pope proclaimed her Universal Patron of the Missions, alongside Saint Francis Xavier, on 14 December 1927.
On 24 August Pope John Paul II announced his intention to proclaim Thérèse of the Child Jesus and of the Holy Face a Doctor of the Universal Church on World Mission Sunday, 19 October 1997.
Bishop Dominic Kokkat CST
BISHOP OF GORAKHPUR
Born on February 23, 1932 at Vaikom in Kerala, young Joseph became a professed member of the Little Flower Congregation in 1953 taking the name Dominic. His major seminary formation and theological studies were at Papal Seminary, Kandy (Sri Lanka) and in Pune. He was ordained priest on October 4, 1960.
He served his congregation in various capacities such as Vice Rector of the C.S.T. Philosophical Seminary-Alwaye, Principal-Technical School, Alwaye and Mission Superior in the CST Mission of Punjab. He was also Assistant Secretary, CBCI-New Delhi from 1978 to 1982. He holds a Diploma in Social Work from the Coady International Institute, Canada.
On October 4, 1984 he was ordained the first Bishop of the newly established Diocese of Gorakhpur and was installed its first Bishop on October 14, 1984. His deep concern for the poor and the marginalized has been a guiding factor for him to begin various apostolates in the diocese.
He founded the Congregation of the Little Sisters of St. Therese (LST) in 1988. In 2006 He became bishop emeritus after nurturing the local Church of Gorakhpur faithfully.
Bishop Dr Mathew Nellikkunnel CST
BISHOP OF GORAKHPUR
Fr. Mathew was born on 13 November 1970 as the first child of Varkey and Mary Nellikunnel hailing from St Mary's Church, Mariapuram in the eparchy of Idukki. He joined the minor seminary of Khrist Jyoti Province, Punjab-Rajasthan of the CST Congregation and started the seminary formation.
He did his First Profession in 1990 and the Final Profession in 1998. He was ordained priest on 30 December 1998 by Mar George Punnakottil. He served the CST Congregation in various capacities such as Assistant Novice Master, Rector of the Minor Seminary, Parish Priest, and School Manager.
He earned a Doctorate in Philosophy from Rome and later served in Germany before becoming Provincial of Khrist Jyoti Province. At the time of his appointment as Bishop, he was the Rector of Little Flower Major Seminary. He is proficient in English, Hindi, German, and Italian.
Mar John Nellikunnel, the Bishop of Idukki, is his younger brother. He succeeds Bishop Mar Thomas Thuruthimattam CST, who served the Eparchy from 2006 to 2023.
Principal List
Sr. Joisy PJ
Service: 2011 to 2015
Sr. Jolly VP
Service: 2015 to 2020
Sr. Nicy Cherian
Service: 2020 to 2025
Sr. Celin Thomas
Service: 2025 to Till Now